So, another 4-5 hour drive today. That's just to the Cambodian-Vietnam border. Then another hour to our stop off, Chau Doc. At least it's a private mini-bus

Our tour leader warned us that we'd be on a very bumpy road for an hour, which is a short cut.
"Short cut"!? How can it be when we were going about 20mph for an hour down a dirt track that is for locals with their ox carts? Surprised the locals didn't attack the mini-bus for using and wrecking their road. And the driver can't have been happy with that route. Bet every time he goes that way, once he's dropped us off he has to go to Kwit-fit to get a brand new suspension system fitted. I'll never complain about speed-bumps and pot-holes again at home.
I suddenly felt really tired too and shut my eyes. Everytime I started to sort of nod off (you know, when your neck loses control of your head!), we'd hit a bump and I know my face was about an inch away from hitting the window and I'd manage to wake up in time to save myself! And Therese was laid down with her feet across me. She kept waking every time she was in mid-air from the bumps!

Drove past lots of little villages. Out in the middle of nowhere too. Kids in some of them would come running up cheering and waving.
So much of the land is flooded, but it's actually normal.
The border crossing was bizarre! A long bridge, that had a hut at one end to get out of Cambodia, then no-mans land, then another hut to get into Vietnam. Busy border for locals too. Saw a guy on a scooter towing a trailer with the most ridiculous load you have ever seen! Look out for the pictures!

Only another hour drive! Doesn't seem quite as poor in Vietnam, more proper houses rather than wood shacks.
Arrived at our hotel in Chau Doc. There's not a great deal to do here and it's very much a locals town, not for tourists. There were a couple of optional activities: a ride to the top of Sam's Mountain to watch sunset, but it was very cloudy; a boat trip to see the floating village, but we'd already done that in Cambodia. We just decided to have a wander around and not bother with activities. Went to the market - it was good to look around but it was more for locals...interesting though! We also drew some new currency - Vietnam Dong. And we are now millionaires!! £100 gets you over 3,000,000 Vietnam Dong....

After that we went back to our rooms to make some phone calls home, and then relaxed for a bit. Met the group for dinner in the hotel restaurant at 7pm. Food wasn't cracking, but cheap so that's enough. Bloody greenflies EVERYWHERE! Every time the door opens, they fly in, because of the light and we're close to the river!

Bit of a problem at the moment. Quite a bit of flooding in Vietnam and it's causing problems with train travel. Our tour leader was in contact with the leader of another group, and their overnight train to Nha Trang stopped at 4am and still not moving at 5pm - 13 hours and not moved! They ended up having to get a coach the rest if the way. So, it looks like we will have to skip Nha Trang because the trains tracks keep flooding and there's flooding in Nha Trang. Plus, it's a beach resort and the beach is a mess from the bad rain and sea, so not much point. Instead, we're likely going to spend another night in Ho Chi Minh City and then fly direct to Hoi An...at our own expense! We'll get two train refunds each, but then have to pay for a flight each plus two nights accommodation.

Tomorrow, a ridiculously long mini-bus to Ho Chi Minh City - 8 hours...